Auto signal



Jan, 6, 1925.

O. R. CURNUTT AUTO SIGNAL Filed Oct. l. 1925 Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES oRA R. GURNUTT, or LEES SUMMIT, MISSOURI.

AUTO SIGNAL.

Application filed October 1, 1923. Serial No. 665,829.

To all whom t mary concer/n.:

Be it known that I, ORA R. CURNUTT, a citizen of the United States, and resident o Lees Summit, county of Jackson, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Auto Signals, of which the following is a complete specification. I s

This invention relates to stop and direction indicating signals for automobiles and has forits objects to produce a compact and simple structure for use at the rear end of a car, whereby the driver may, through manually operable connections, readily and quickly indicate his intentions with respect to a contemplated change in the course of the automobile.

Another object is to produce a signal of the'character described which, when in its normal position, functions as a tail light and in which provision is made for emitting a small amount of light for the illumination of license plates or the like.

A further object is to produce a signal of the character mentioned which is of compact, strong, durable, etlicient and ineXpen-' sive construction; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a View of a signal embodying the invention, as it will appear in operative relation to an automobile, the automobile being partly broken away to disclose parts otherwise hidden;

Figure 2 is an enlarged rear face view of the signal;

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal'section taken through the signal; l Figure 4is a. section on the line lV-VIV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is aA section on the line V-V of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section on the line VIe-VI of Figure 3;

'Figure 7 is a section on the line VII- VII of Figure 3; and

Figure 8 is a. face view of the shield member bearing the direction indicating symbols.

In the said drawing, where like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all of the iigures, 1 indicates a tubular casing member which is provided with a series of slots 2 and 3 and opening 4 for purposes which will hereinafter appear.

The casing 1 is internally threaded at its opposite ends, and in threaded engagement with one end thereof is a closure cap 5 which is provided wit-han axially projecting sleeve 6; and at its other end saidcasing is closed by a cap 7 formed with a central opening 8.

The casing, as above described, is adapted to be mounted on a'pair of blocks v9 carried by a rear fender 10 ofan automobile 5A, and is held in position4 onsaid blocks by means yof straps 11 Secured by means of clamp bolts 12 engaged in the blocks 9, it being appare-nt, however, that the casing may be mounted in any convenientv position on the car.

The direction indicating member comrises a'signal casing 13, preferably of thin exiblev metal which is formed with openings 14 and 15, respectively, for normal registration with the slots 2 and 3 of thev casing l, and in addition any suitable direction indicating symbols S are cut out of said shield.

The shield 13 is rolled to cylindrical formy and is secured at its opposite ends by means of'screws 16v to a pair ot' closure members `17 and 18, theI former being journaled on the sleeve 6, and the latter having a projecting stem 19 journaled in 'the opening 8 of the cap 7 It will be noted in this connection that the cap 5 and the closure 17 arerespectively cut away, as at 17a, to provide a channel for an inwardly projecting stop pin 20 carried by the casing 1, and adaptedv for cooperation with a second stop pin 21 pro- Y jecting from the outer face of the closure 17 to limitthe rotation of the'shieldcylinder, as vwill-.hereinafter appear.

ing preferably uncolored kat 23, where it.

bridges the slot-15, which normally registers i Rolled up into cylindrical form and with the slot 3,0f the casing for the illumj ination Yof a license plate or the like (not shown). v

For the illumination of the signal, a plug 24 is mounted in the sleeve 6 and is adapted to be detachably engaged atone endby a plug designed to be included in the light circuit of the car, and at its other end is adapted' for detachable connection with an electric bulb 26 for the illumination of theinterior of the casing. In this connection it will be noted thatthe end of the casing- 13 is pro-V vided with a suitable reflector 26a to aid in the distribution of the light.

In order to `provide means for the operation of the signal, the closure 18, adjacent the cap 7, is of rediiceddiameter, as inldicatedv at` 27, to provide an operating chambe 1 for avv co-iled spring 28 secured atene end kto the y closure by means of a. pin 29, and .at its other end to the casing l by means of a pin 3Q.,

The spring 27 tends to maintain the cylinder 13 with its opening 14: T(the tail light open;y

ing), normally in register with the 'opening 2 of the casing, the stop pins v20 and 2l limiting wthe rotating action of ,the spring 27.

Adjacent thereduced portion 27,' the' ,clo s` ure v 18 ,is formed with a circumferential channel 31, Within v.iliich one end of a pull cable 32 is securedvby means of.' a pin The cable is normally Wound around ,the cyl' inde1t,. andxtends; Outside thecasligul througli the .opening al. ,and over aseries'rofA pulleys, 3 4 to a lever '35, preferably mounted,

onthe steering column, in convenient position tor operation ,by the drivenof the can The levery cooperates with aserles otl the A.signal symbols will, successively-,be displayed..asthercylinder is rotated., lt ,ivill` be undersgtood,of course, that the spring; 2T. will retui'irtli'e signal to normal posi, tion immediately ,the lever freed for return operation. Y

It is `also evident that the signal is composedgovf relatively few parts, isomparativelyWater a-nd .dust proof,l and is read' y A disman tz tblefor, l K4 light tbnlo or forr cleaning.

As afurther feature otadvantage, it isl to be 1iotedf,tliat the Vsigjrialing faction', is

equally visible by night asivell as, byfdayf and also that. the device may be operated im advance loi, any turn1ng movementt to give any desiredv signal and ,set to maintain such3 signal in operation I while the lfurther.

attention ot .the ldrivelis devoted'fentiiely to Y the operation of .tl1 e steeringvlieel as required ,to `control lthe movement oi the car.

From the above 'description itfjvill .be ap# parentfthat l-v havev produced a device ,ofi `the character described which possesses all,; ofthe features oit advantage, setjorth 'aside-A sirable, and While I havedescribedand til-y lustrated4 the, preferred embodiment .o f the same, I reserve the right to make allchanfres properlyfalling Withinthe spirit Jand scope of the appended claims.

I claim v l. ln a automobile signal, a Xed casing provided with an opening, a rotatable casin'g Within said first-named casing and havingy a series of Idirection indicating symbols adapted for successive display through said opening, one end of said casing being ot' reduced diameter, a sp1'ing`eoi'led around said redueedend of the casing `and maintaining the sameina predetermined position; said reduced end of thecasingbeing also formed with a circumferenti-a1 channel,`a.nd a pull cord ,normally Wound around said Casing Within said channel and adapted to impart I'Otatimthereto.-

'2. I1 i a.n autoniobilesignal, a lixed casing provided,with an op ening, a lrotatable casing Within, said first-named casing and having avseries of direction indicating symbols adapted torsuccessive display through said opening, one lend otsaid' casing, being of reduced,diameter, aspring coiled around `said reduced end of the casing and main taining' same in a predetermined position; said reduced end ofthe' casingbeing also ormedwith a circumferential'channel, a pulll cord secured itosaid casingl` and normalirriteert around ,the ,Same Within, Said @hwnel, a lever secured'to the Jfree kend/of said cord andin'anually voperableto rotate said signal casing, andan electric light Within saidArotatable;casing. y

ln an automobile signal a fixed casing provided lwith an openingA and end closures, a rotatable Vcashing lWithin saidfixed casing andghayinga series ofdirection indicating symbols adapted for successive v display thriughsaidopening, a sleeve projecting thlroiiglioney of the.` e'closuresl of the lined eas! ing` andtorming a Signal'lightsupport and ybearingfor ythe rotatable casingfa detach yable closure for the 'opposite end yotthe rotatable casing comprising a 4`m e` m ber formed with a cncumV ential cha nel'and a pairot l'educedportlo s, an operaY ngcord in said chan1iel,'and'an 'ope-rating `spring,` in

one o fj saidv reduced'portions; the other reduced portion being rotatably receivedin -an ope-ning 1n one end closure. oit' ,the fined casing.

In, \vitness ,wl1e1'eofI ,hereunto aiiix my signature.

ORA R, C-URNUTT.

10Qty I 

